Beyond the job: Unsung hero recognised for community work

When kids turn up to school without shoes it tugs at his heartstrings
and in his mind’s eye he pictures his own upbringing in Fiji.

As the school’s property caretaker, Puti Apati is a popular figure and he gets to know most of the children attending Kelston Intermediate School. But it’s the kids from homes where money is tight who particularly strike a chord, he says.

Not wanting to make any fuss, and in an extraordinary act of kindness,
Puti often buys shoes and provides lunch money for the youngsters he sees who are
struggling and could benefit from a helping hand. It’s something he does
discreetly off his own bat, to spread a little cheer to those facing hardship.

He understands the embarrassment some kids go through if they come from
broken or troubled homes where there’s little precious money for the life’s bare
necessities.

“I myself came from a poor background. We grew up with nothing and I
really understand the situation,” says Puti, recalling his childhood in Fiji
when he had to walk barefoot for a mile each day to catch the school bus.

“I know exactly what’s going on in their head. When these kids come to
school they’ll see other kids wearing school shoes and being able to buy lunch
or an ice block.

“It motivates me that they are just kids and need help. I do it without
thinking. I feel sad to see kids in a situation like that.”

Sometimes he will put on a lunchtime barbecue at school or sausage
sizzle to provide a simple lunch for kids who haven’t got money to lunch.

Up until recently he’s been something of an unsung hero. But Puti unexpectedly
found himself in the spotlight when he was honoured at a special ceremony by
Kelston Community Hub.

He was nominated for a “Proud to be Kelson Community Award” by Kelston
Intermediate School Deputy Principal Kiri Laing, who says Puti is much valued
member of the close-nit school family.

“If he sees a need he’ll try to fill it. If he can’t, he’ll find
somebody who can,” Kiri says “Our kids see him as not just the caretaker but as
someone who offers community support.

“We nominated Puti for the extra work he’s put in while we’ve had
different things going on at the school and for looking after the school
grounds and the hard job he does.

“Whenever we organise anything at night he’ll stay on and lock up after
us and make sure we all get home safely. It’s all the little things that he
doesn’t get paid to do but we really appreciate.

“He’ll go out of his way to do anything for us and because he’s Tuvaluan,
and he’s lived in Fiji and a lot of different pacific places, he finds it easy
to get on with our community.”

Puti says the award came “as a total surprise”. “I didn’t know I was
getting an award. It was an honour to receive it for the community.”

“Whatever
you do, do it with all your heart, mind and soul, you never know what is
waiting for you. For me, it was beyond my expectations.”

In
addition to his positive philosophy about work, Puti says having a large family
also motivates him. With seven kids – six boys (including a set of twins) and
one girl – he says the big household is a driving force.

Providing better educational opportunities for his children was the
reason Puti and his wife Seiolita moved from Fiji to New Zealand in 2007. “In
Fiji, we had a little bit of struggle,” he confesses.

“So my wife and I decided to move and we’ve never regretted it. I really miss home – there’s no place like home – but for the future of the children, we put aside what we like in order to put them first, so they don’t have to go through what we went through.”

Caroline Wedding, CrestClean’s Auckland West Regional Manager, says Puti is one of kind. “I couldn’t be more proud. He is a great ambassador for his family and the CrestClean brand.”